There was tension in the air as the IPL 2023 fixture between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC) went down to the wire at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala on Wednesday (May 17).
David Warner, the Delhi Capitals captain, was not impressed with an umpire's call in the final over as Punjab Kings were in with an outside chance, needing 33 runs in the last 6 deliveries of the high-scoring thriller.
With 33 needed from the last over, PBKS batter smashed DC pacer Ishant Sharma’s second and third delivery for a six and a four. The fourth ball was declared a ‘no-ball’ for being above the waist and was also deposited into the stands as 7 runs came off that delivery.
However, Ishant and DC skipper David Warner were not pleased with the no-ball call and argued with the umpire over the legality of the delivery. Warner also reviewed the decision for it to be called no-ball but the ball-tracker suggested that the ball was marginally above the waist and the umpire was asked to stay with his call.
As a result, Punjab Kings' equation came down to 17 off 3, keeping them in the hunt but Ishant bounced back to bowl two dot balls before he got rid of Livingstone on the final delivery to seal the deal for DC.
After the game, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle also shared his two cents on the contentious no-ball via a tweet.
“On the waist high no-ball judgement by the 3rd umpire, it is critical that there is consistency going ahead,” Harsha wrote on Twitter.
To which, DC co-owner Parth Jindal replied: “I for one seriously cannot understand the rule - the ball in the WPL final that got Shafali Verma out was clearly a no ball if the same rules apply that applied tonight. What is the rule? @IPL.”
Following the loss, Punjab Kings skipper Shikhar Dhawan said that the hope had returned to the dugout after Ishant's no-ball.
"It was frustrating. But we didn't bowl well in the first six overs. We should have taken a couple of wickets with the way the pitch was behaving," Dhawan said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
"With the no ball, I had hope, but credit to Liam for the way he played," he further added.
